McLAREN AUTOMOTIVE CELEBRATES ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY

Officially opened its McLaren Production Centre by Prime Minister David Cameron

Won Best British Luxury Brand

Launched McLaren Special Operations to create bespoke 12C sports cars

Debuted the 12C GT3 race car

June 21 2012 represents an extraordinary milestone for McLaren Automotive which has, in the last 12 months, evolved into a global luxury car producer. It was exactly a year ago since the first 12C high performance sports car was sold, and McLaren opened its very first retailer in the UK. Twelve months later, sales of the 12C have surpassed 1000 and McLaren has expanded its retail network into 22 countries across the globe.

Managing Director Antony Sheriff said “This is a proud moment in time for everyone at McLaren where, in only 12 months, the 12C has established itself as one of the most acclaimed high performance sports cars in the world amongst a very discerning customer. From the day that Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button officially opened our very first showroom in London, McLaren is now present in 38 cities in 22 countries across the globe.

“At the heart of this journey is a single-minded focus on the very highest quality and personal care and support wherever our customers are in the world. That is what our customers expect after they buy the car, and are just as important as a fast lap time.”

Global retail network in 22 countries

Through four regional offices, each with its own management team, McLaren showrooms are now located in some of the most prestigious locations around the world:

Prime Minister David Cameron officially opened the new MPC in Woking and, during the visit Mr Cameron said that he had never seen anything quite like it. Describing the work of McLaren Group as “inspiring”, the Prime Minister said his visit was a great reminder that Britain still had “world class engineering, world class manufacturing and world class production techniques.” He added "it's visits to places like this that make me optimistic about the future.”

Walpole award for Best British Luxury Brand

McLaren Automotive emerged as the winner from a shortlist of some of Britain’s most revered luxury firms, all of whom exemplify excellence in the luxury sector. On collecting the award McLaren Group & Automotive Executive Chairman Ron Dennis said “We set out to build a world leading automotive business, manufacturing and marketing category leading, high-performance vehicles. To be recognised by such esteemed peers as having also built Britain’s Best Luxury Brand is both an honour and reaffirmation for our team that we are moving in the right direction.”

Launch of McLaren Special Operations

McLaren Special Operations is the new division of McLaren Automotive, responsible for the delivery of bespoke projects for McLaren sports cars – and is headed by Programme Director Paul Mackenzie. “McLaren Automotive already offers 12C customers extensive options to personalise their car. However we recognise some owners have specific tastes and we have the knowledge and capability to design, engineer and produce almost anything a customer may desire for their 12C.” said Mackenzie.

Debut of new 12C GT3

As McLaren GT prepared to enter two cars in the Blancpain Endurance Series race at Magny Cours, the new GT race car manufacturer announced that the first 25 12C GT3 race cars available to purchase for racing in 2012 were sold. Like the 12C road car on which the 12C GT3 race car is based, demand has outstripped supply. The limited production run of race cars has been distributed to customer teams for racing in various championships across Europe.

McLaren Automotive is an independent company, chaired by Ron Dennis, and based at the McLaren Technology Centre, the McLaren Group’s headquarters in Surrey. McLaren Automotive has a rich and seamless heritage in producing premium sports cars for the road: the McLaren F1 road car, which was launched in 1992, set the world land speed record for a production car, and is regarded as one of the best examples of supercar exotica. The Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren is the most successful supercar ever in its price bracket, having sold twice as many cars as its nearest carbon-based rival.

McLaren Automotive is now launching a new car company through a global network of highly regarded premium car retailers who will sell a full range of McLaren high-performance sports cars built at an advanced new manufacturing facility, the McLaren Production Centre.

McLaren Automotive’s debut model is the MP4-12C. Drawing on the company’s long-standing Formula 1 experience in its concept and development, the 12C will be lighter, more powerful, more fuel efficient and more exclusive than its key competition. The 12C will be followed by a range of new McLaren models and derivatives all will be high performance, yet highly efficient and make the best use of Formula 1 technology and know-how.

It will achieve its performance benchmarks by introducing a unique one-piece moulded carbon chassis into the ‘core’ sports car segment using a new production method. All McLarens will be based on this innovative carbon technology; McLaren has not built a racing or road car on anything other than a carbon chassis in 30 years.